How to Maintain Your Home Siding with Exterior Caulking

Your home siding is the most important layer of defense against the elements, including severe winds, rain, and snow. Even the hardest siding may get damaged over time resulting in cracks, gaps, and leaks. Well, the bright side is that the maintenance of siding is simple and inexpensive. One way to perform this is by using exterior caulking. Whatever kind of siding is whether it wood, vinyl, or even fiber cement the right exterior caulk for siding will help keep moisture from seeping into your home, saving you money in the long run. Also, keep your house looking great for years to come.

In this blog, we are going to guide you through why and how to maintain your siding with exterior caulking. Everything from understanding when caulking is necessary to choosing the right products will be covered here.

Why Caulking Matters to Your Siding

Caulking is a process that allows your house to keep away water and air leaks, save for rodents. Any given time a crack or gap evolves on the house siding, it is always water seeping into the house that brings on mold and rot in your walls. These gaps seal and hold the moisture away using caulking.

In addition, a tight home is energy-efficient. Air leaks can occur around windows, doors, and siding that allow the air to leak out, making your heating and cooling systems work hard. It would make your house uncomfortable to live in throughout the year. This incurs extra costs on your energy bill.

Caulking also helps prevent pests. Even the smallest opening can let bugs, rodents, and other tiny critters into your house. Caulking keeps them out by blocking entryways.

Choosing the Right Exterior Caulk for Siding

Not all caulks are designed equally. Here are the best types of exterior caulk for siding.

1. Silicone Caulk

Silicone caulk is one of the most in-demand for external applications. It's highly flexible and waterproof, perfect for gaps around windows and doors and also siding. It's excellent for preventing the growth of mold and mildew in that space.

2. Acrylic Latex Caulk

Acrylic latex caulk is also a popular choice for outdoor use. It comes with a water-clean-up method that makes it perfect for the do-it-yourself user. It's also paintable to match the color of the siding. However, this caulk material is not as flexible as silicone, therefore being not strong under extreme temperature variations.

3. Polyurethane Caulk

This is another versatile choice that is relatively durable and has flexibility. For larger gaps, it is much more effective on cracks. And since it is polyurethane paintable, custom color caulk can be the best option if it matches your siding. It outperforms the acrylic latex caulks in a weather and UV ray resistance case, which guarantees long-term protection.

4. Butyl Rubber Caulk

It is great for sealing areas that are constantly exposed to water, such as windows or where siding meets the roof. It is waterproof and has excellent adhesion. Making it a good choice for homes in wetter climates. However, it is not as flexible as silicone caulk. And it can be a bit more of a pain to work with.

How to Apply Exterior Caulk to Your Siding

Applying caulk is a pretty straightforward task. But the right way will result in a professional finish. To get you started, follow these steps.

1. Clean the Surface

Clean and dry the area surface for caulking. Remove old caulk, dirt, and debris using a wire brush or scraper. Around windows, doors, or trim, wipe the area with a damp cloth after caulking to remove dust and grime.

2. Choose the Right Caulk

Once your surface is prepped, you may now choose your caulk. In case you prefer having a custom color caulk, most home-improvement stores offer tin table caulk, which is sure to come in your siding color; hence your caulking would seamlessly blend well with your exterior.

3. Load the Caulk Gun

Cut the caulk tube tip at a specific angle. The diameter of the hole will determine the amount of caulk dispensed. So it is essential to avoid making the hole too large. Fit the tube into a caulk gun and trigger the gun to start dispensing the caulk.

4. Apply the Caulk

Apply slowly a steady bead of caulk along the seams, joints, or cracks you want to seal. You must keep the gun at an angle and speed for an even bead. Don't bother with perfection at this stage; just focus on getting the caulk into the gap.

5. Smoothing the Caulk

Immediately after caulk application, proceed to smooth out the bead using a wet finger or a caulk smoothing tool. This will make sure the applied bead sticks to the surface and also fills the minuscule holes created, leaving no holes for air to exist.

6. Allow it to Dry

Allow the caulk to cure for the recommended time, usually 24 hours, before exposing it to rain or moisture. Be sure to check the manufacturer's instructions for mentioned drying times.

Tips for a Long-Lasting Caulking

Work in small sections: Exterior caulk for siding is best in small, manageable sections. Also, ensure a smooth, consistent application.

Right Weather: Do not apply caulk on extremely hot or cold days. Caulk will cure better if applied when the temperature is around 50-75°F.

Do not overfill: Apply enough caulk and do not overfill because, when there's too much excess material, the smooth finish turns out unappealing. It also becomes more challenging to fill.

Reapply Every Few Years: Even the best caulk will eventually wear down. Be sure to inspect your caulk every few years. And reapply as needed to maintain a strong seal.

Conclusion

Siding with exterior caulking is the easiest way to protect your house from the weather, save energy, and maintain your siding in good condition. The right caulk for exterior siding, used with proper application techniques, can help ensure your home will stay dry, comfortable, and pest-free for many years.

Remember, regular maintenance is key. Watch for cracking and separation or evidence of wear around the seams, and re-caulk as needed. Whether you like using standard caulk or custom color-matching caulks for your siding, contact Denver Color Caulk.

Here you can find a customized caulk mixer and specially formulated siliconized acrylic latex sealer to match the most popular siding and trim colors and almost any other color you can think of.